Sherwood SPAR, a retail outlet based in Port Elizabeth, was posed with a challenge when it decided to upgrade from Kwikspar to SPAR. The local municipality required the store to invest in a mini substation, a move that would cost over R800,000 and place significant financial pressure on the store.
In order to circumvent this obstacle, Sherwood SPAR turned to NEURA to conduct a comprehensive energy efficiency audit of their facility. The procedure involved a detailed analysis of the existing energy data to develop accurate baseline information for subsequent modelling. This data driven approach is at the heart of NEURA’s strategic approach to energy management needs.
Following the data audit, an investment grade audit of all major energy-consuming systems in the facility was performed. The data collected was used to model energy-efficient solutions against the baseline, yielding accurate estimates for return on investment as well as potential reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In the wake of these audits, Sherwood SPAR implemented a series of initiatives aimed at improving energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy. These initiatives included daylight harvesting, optimization of LED lighting, implementation of an energy management system, staff training to improve energy use capacity, tariff optimization, and the installation of solar PV.
These initiatives resulted in over 60% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the store’s baseline, saving over 3,148 tonnes of CO2. To put this into perspective, this amount of carbon is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from 1,117 passenger vehicles, or the carbon sequestered by 8,718 hectares of forest in a year.
Thanks to their sustainable retail practices, Sherwood SPAR was able to upgrade their facilities to a SPAR, increase their refrigeration and store footprint, and save money on operational costs. Additionally, the store signed a power purchase agreement to purchase renewable energy at a discounted rate from a third party.
Sherwood SPAR’s success serves as an example for other retailers and businesses to follow, demonstrating that sustainable practices can be both environmentally and financially beneficial.
